Miranda Lambert Reflects On Her Artist Journey With Heartfelt ACM Triple Crown Award Acceptance Speech

Miranda Lambert’s iconic country music career was celebrated during the 15th Annual ACM Honors as she received the coveted Triple…

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Lauren Jo Black

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September 13, 2022

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Miranda Lambert; Photo by Getty Images for ACM

Miranda Lambert’s iconic country music career was celebrated during the 15th Annual ACM Honors as she received the coveted Triple Crown Award and was honored by her friends and musical heroes during the show. 

The Triple Crown Award is awarded to an artist after they receive the ACM Awards for New Artist Of The Year, Female or Male Artist Of The Year, and Entertainer Of The Year.

It’s an honor only seven other artists have been awarded (Brooks & Dunn, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Chesney, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Carrie Underwood, and Jason Aldean). Keith Urban and The Chicks have also qualified for the Triple Crown Award and have yet to receive the honor. 

“It’s amazing, I mean, we’re at the Ryman, number one, which is the heart of Nashville and heart of country music – our mother church – and I went to my first ACMs in 2005 and I won New Female in 2006, and it’s 2022 and I won Entertainer this year, so it’s just been such a long road and such an amazing one,” Lambert, who is the most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history, shared ahead of the show. 

Miranda Lambert; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM
Miranda Lambert; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

“This journey – I see these fans out here and I only wanted, from the beginning of time, when I started playing music at seventeen, I always just said my goal is to have a long career. I want to be able to sing and write songs for as long as I physically can, and this was just affirmation that I’m on the right path, because 2006 to 2022 is a long time! But I am so thankful for every piece of that journey.”

Prior to accepting her trophy, Lambert was honored with tribute performances by Brooks & Dunn (“Kerosene”) and Little Big Town (“The House That Built Me”). 

The Texas native’s longtime producer, Frank Liddell, presented her with the Triple Crown honor and she took to the stage to accept the trophy while sporting a fiery orange mini dress/blazer by Australian designer, Alex Perry. 

“I had an amazing night, Brooks & Dunn just sang ‘Kerosene’ I’m freaking out,” she gushed.

The “Strange” singer then reflected on her career and gave shoutouts to those who helped her along the way. 

“I came to my first ACM Awards in 2005 and it’s now 2022, that seems crazy to me, but I’m so thankful to my manager Marion, who is my second mom and who calls me on my sh-t and [my business manager] Dewayne Clark, who was honored tonight. I met him when I was 19 years old, and I don’t know how much money I have, so thank you for that. He keeps [me] humble,” she shared.” 

Lambert went on to recall a visit to Nashville when she was just 15 years old and shared the lasting impact her time in Music City had on her. 

Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM
Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

“I came…to watch Fan Fair when it was at the fairgrounds and now its CMA Fest. I love it, but I just came to observe and learn and I’m still doing that and I hope that I’m part of the next generation’s observing and learning,” she said. “My band and crew and I work so hard, we’ve been on the road for 20 years playing music and so we can’t do any of this that we’re doing up here without fans and we appreciate all the years of loyalty. Country music has the most loyal fans in the world. At 19, I was trying to set everything on fire and firing my pistols on all cylinders and now I see the girls my age bringing their daughters to my show and I hope that we can continue that for years to come because this stage is what it was all built on… This building and this town and this industry.” 

After thanking the audience for “loving country music,” Lambert sweetly gave her husband Brendan a heartfelt “I love you” before exiting the stage. 

Miranda Lambert; Photo by Getty Images for ACM
Miranda Lambert; Photo by Getty Images for ACM

It’s been a year of success for Miranda Lambert. In addition to winning the Triple Crown Award and continuing her reign as ACM Entertainer of the Year, Lambert is preparing to launch her first-ever Las Vegas Residency later this month. 

Velvet Rodeo: The Las Vegas Residency will take place at Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas beginning September 23 and will run through April 2023. Learn more about the residency HERE

Hosted by reigning ACM Female Artist of the Year, Carly Pearce, the 15th Annual ACM Honors took place on Wednesday, August 24 at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Dubbed “Country Music industry’s favorite night,” ACM Honors recognized several special honorees, including ACM Spirit Award recipient Chris Stapleton, ACM Poet’s Award recipient Shania Twain, ACM Milestone Award recipient Morgan Wallen and ACM Film Award recipient Yellowstone.

Performers and presenters included Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, The Warren Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, ERNEST, Jesse Frasure, Vince Gill, Ashley Gorley, Mickey Guyton, HARDY, Wynonna Judd, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Carly Pearce, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and more.

ACM Award winner and Grammy nominee Trace Adkins was also on hand to perform his cover of “A Country Boy Can Survive,” from the brand-new FOX country music drama MONARCH, in which he stars alongside Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel.

ACM Honors premiered on Tuesday, September 13 at 8/7c on FOX. The show will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.